(CNN) — CNN Travel has your back when it comes to your vacation needs. Confused about tipping? Read our guide. Don’t know which currency option to pick when making card payments? Here’s what to do. Want a roundup of all the week’s news? Read on.
Irish island homes
New opportunities are afoot for those dreaming of fixing up a rural idyll far from the chaos of modern life. Ireland has just announced a scheme to revitalize more than 20 of the idyllic islands that lie off its western seaboard, including Inis Mór, whose breathtaking landscape you might recognize from the Hollywood hit “The Banshees of Inisherin,” as well as 10 Irish-speaking Gaeltacht islands.
Increased grants of up to €84,000 (nearly $92,000) will soon be offered to people willing to refurbish vacant or derelict homes and then live in them, with Vacant Home Officers now on the case to identify eligible properties. Would-be islanders should be aware that while there are no restrictions on who can buy property in Ireland, owning a place doesn’t guarantee you the right to live there. The government website has the latest deets on the Our Living Islands policy and the existing refurbishment scheme.
Airplane seats
Plus-size travelers are hitting out at “discriminatory” and inconsistent airline policies that often mean they are forced to buy additional seats. Travel influencer Jae’lynn Chaney is calling for more standardization, telling CNN Travel, “At the bare minimum, we need every airline to have a policy that tells people of size how to navigate their airline.”
And in China, Hainan Airlines has faced a backlash after imposing weight restrictions on flight attendants.
Australian airline Qantas has revealed what economy seats will look like on its upcoming record-breaking 19-hour flights between New York and Sydney. The airline promises that its specially designed Airbus A350s will offer passengers more legroom and space to move around the cabin compared with standard flights.
And if the very thought of that is making you a bit crampy, check out our video with five tips on avoiding pain during a long flight.
Our animal friends
A young bear was spotted enjoying a swim alongside beachgoers in Florida on June 11, before hitting the shore and taking off. Woodlands are of course a bear’s usual habitat, and the National Park Service has these safety tips if you encounter one, including not pushing “a slower friend down.”
City leaders in Paris are trying to find out if there’s a way for humans and rats to live peaceably alongside each other. No news as yet on whether that includes rodents living under chefs’ hats à la “Ratatouille.”
If cohabitation with birds is more your thing, our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have put together a beginner’s guide to bird-watching. Here’s what you need to know.
How well do you know American food?
Put your culinary knowledge to the test by matching 50 regional dishes with the US states that love them in our 50 states, 50 plates game! Click here to play.
Law and order
Not a week goes by without fresh antics. A man was arrested after jumping into an alligator enclosure in Florida, comedian Marlon Wayans was cited for “disturbing the peace” at Denver’s airport, and Bali is considering banning mountain climbing after a rise in tourist misbehavior, such as semi-nude selfies and other goings-on.
The Republic of Slowjamastan
San Diego late-night DJ Randy “R Dub!” Williams has spent his life attempting to visit every country in the world. And when he was nearly done, he went one further by creating his own: the Slowjamastan micronation in the Californian desert.
In case you missed it
Off the coast of France, a 1,000-year-old citadel rises out of the Atlantic Ocean.
The stunning creation has played a crucial role in the country’s history.
The heavily armed DMZ separating North Korea and South Korea has become a haven for wildlife.
Europe is already facing a crazy, blockbuster season of tourism.
And the madness is about to get a lot worse.
Air travel is toxic for the planet.
But some airlines are better than others.
